Delta Vision-OMX Super-Resolution Fluorescent Microscope

描述（由申请人提供）：在使用细胞生物学技术研究生物功能和机制方面出现了复兴。这一进展是由新的荧光探针，更灵敏的成像系统和新技术的发展所推动的。越来越多的信息使人们认识到，细胞是高度组织化的，其方式有利于不同细胞因子的相互作用，以介导生物学功能。这些研究极大地增强了我们对传染病、癌症和发育生物学的基本理解。传统上，通过基于光的显微镜技术可获得的分辨率被衍射限制为所利用的光的波长的大约一半。最近，显微镜技术的一些进步已经允许克服这种衍射极限。为了利用这些最新的技术进步，我们建议购买由华盛顿Issaquah的应用精密仪器公司制造的OMX超分辨率显微镜系统。该系统利用结构照明来克服普通光显微镜的衍射极限。在西北大学，NIH支持的许多科学家的研究需要荧光显微镜来表征细胞内的小病毒和细胞结构，这些结构可以介导关键的生物学功能。因此，必须尽可能详细地定义这些结构的组成部分及其相互关系。正如本申请中包含的初步数据所证明的那样，OMX可以为这些结构的空间细节提供新的见解，包括核纤层蛋白、桥粒和细胞内病毒复合物。OMX超分辨率显微镜系统将被安置在西北大学杰出的细胞成像核心设施中，从而广泛使用这种革命性的成像技术。目前，在我们的细胞成像核心设施或大芝加哥地区，还没有类似这种最先进的技术。因此，该系统将极大地增强NIH支持的西北用户组研究以及这里和附近机构的类似研究。 公共卫生相关性：获得超分辨率显微镜将提高西北大学和该地区其他用户群的能力，并促进其细胞生物学研究。这反过来将促进更高水平的生产力和先进的f知识从美国国立卫生研究院赞助的研究在西北大学和更大的芝加哥地区。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): There has been a renaissance in the use of cell biology techniques to study biological functions and mechanisms. This advance has been driven by the development of new fluorescent probes, more sensitive imaging systems and new techniques. Increased information has led to the realization that the cell is highly organized in ways that facilitate the interaction of different cellular factors to mediate biological function. These studies have greatly enhanced our basic understanding of the biology of infectious diseases, cancer, and development. Traditionally, the resolution obtainable by light based microscopy techniques is limited by diffraction to about half of the wavelength of the light utilized. More recently, several advancements in microscope technologies have allowed this diffraction limit to be overcome. To take advantage of these recent technological advances, we propose to purchase an OMX super-resolution microscope system built by Applied Precision Instruments of Issaquah, Washington. This system utilizes structured illumination to overcome the diffraction limits of normal light microscopy. At Northwestern University, the NIH supported research of many scientists requires fluorescent microscopy to characterize small viral and cellular structures within cells, which can mediate key biological functions. Therefore, it is critcal that the components of these structures and their relationships to one another be defined in the highest possible detail. As demonstrated with preliminary data included in the application, the OMX can deliver new insights into the spatial details of such structures including the nuclear lamins, desmosomes, and intracellular viral complexes. The OMX super-resolution microscope system will be housed in the outstanding Cell Imaging Core Facility at Northwestern, giving widespread access to this revolutionary imaging technology. There is currently nothing like this state-of-the-art technology in our Cell Imaging Core Facility or in the greater Chicagoland area. Therefore, this system will greatly enhance the NIH supported research of the Northwestern user group and similar types of research here and at nearby institutions. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Access to a super-resolution microscope will increase the capabilities and facilitate the cell biology research of the user group at Northwestern University and others in the region. This in turn will facilitate a greater level of productivity and advance f knowledge from NIH sponsored research at Northwestern University and the greater Chicago area.